CHICAGO - My Block, My Hood, My Cityis bringing holiday cheer to some South Side communities this season by stringing lights in trees along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Volunteers with the social impact organization will be out the next three weekends to hang lights along King Drive from 51st to 95th streets as part of the Be A Part Of The Lightcampaign.

A kickoff event will be held Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7700 S. King Dr., and will include hot cocoa, coffee, food and drink donations from local businesses, as volunteers hang lights from 71st to 79th street.

“By lighting up trees along King Drive for the holiday season we’ll bring hope and inspiration to a part of the city that’s too often over-looked,” said My Block Founder and CEO Jahmal Cole. “My Block will show Chicago that it’s not just important that our downtown is lit up for the holidays, but every community.”

Through partnerships with block clubs and residents association along King Dr., My Block is identifying residents along King Drive interested in having their homes and trees lit up with solar-power holiday lights. The organization is seeking volunteers to help hang lights and donations of lights and other equipment, too. For more information on the Be A Part Of The Lightcampaign, to donate your time or purchase supplies, or to request lights if you live on King Drive, visit here.

The campaign is the latest outreach initiative from My Block designed to break down barriers between people and overcome the segregation and isolation that still plague Chicago. For his work with block clubs in Chicago, Cole was recently selected to participate in the Facebook Community Leadership Program, one of 115 community leaders from around the world chosen for the program. Cole was selected from more than 6,000 applicants.

Besides the block club initiative, My Block has an Explorer’s program that is designed to expose youth from under-resourced communities to opportunities and experiences beyond their neighborhoods. To accomplish this, My Block takes students on explorations focused on STEM, arts and culture, community development and entrepreneurism. The goal is to help teenagers overcome the poverty and isolation they face, boosting educational attainment and providing them opportunities that make a difference in their lives.